"If one demanded the price!" said Madame Dépine (who had already done so twice).
"It is an idea!" agreed Madame Valière.
"The day will come when one's nieces will be married."
"But scarcely when New Year's Day shall cease to be," the "Princess" sighed.
"Still, one might win in the lottery!"
"Ah! true. Let us enter, then."
"One will be enough. You go." Madame Dépine rather dreaded the coiffeur, whom intercourse with jocose students had made severe.
But Madame Valière shrank back shyly. "No, let us both go." She added, with a smile to cover her timidity, "Two heads are better than one."
"You are right. He will name a lower price in the hope of two orders." And, pushing the "Princess" before her like a turret of defence, Madame Dépine wheeled her into the ladies' department.
The coiffeur, who was washing the head of an American girl, looked up ungraciously. As he perceived the outer circumference of Madame Dépine projecting on either side of her turret, he emitted a glacial "Bon jour, mesdames."